Hall of Famer Shaquille O'Neal has voiced his dissatisfaction with the current state of the NBA Slam Dunk Contest, citing a significant decline in star participation and an increase in missed attempts. O'Neal believes the event has become stagnant and is missing the appeal it once held when marquee players competed.
"In the last 15 years, we haven’t had a real top guy like LeBron [James], Zion Williamson, participate in a dunk contest," O'Neal stated on Boardroom Cover Stories. He also pointed to the frequent occurrence of contestants missing multiple dunks, further detracting from the spectacle.
The NBA's annual dunk contest, held during All-Star Weekend, has featured iconic moments throughout its history, including Vince Carter's memorable windmill dunk in 2000, Dwight Howard's "Superman" slam in 2008, and Blake Griffin's dunk over a car in 2011. However, in recent years, the contest has struggled to attract top-tier talent.
Winners over the past 15 years have often been lesser-known players, such as Mac McClung, Hamidou Diallo, Glenn Robinson III, and Jeremy Evans, rather than household names that would draw larger audiences. O'Neal suggests that the lack of participation from stars like James and Williamson contributes to the contest's diminishing appeal.
In response to the perceived issues, O'Neal is launching his own dunk competition, DUNKMAN, which will offer a substantial prize of $500,000, potentially the largest in professional dunk history. O'Neal indicated that the prize money could increase based on the quality of talent and performances.
O'Neal's initiative aims to provide a platform for skilled dunkers who may not be established NBA stars. He observed that many talented individuals gain significant followings on social media for their dunking abilities, suggesting a need to create a league that can properly compensate them. The DUNKMAN event is planned to be international in scope, featuring athletes from countries including England, China, Brazil, Puerto Rico, Ukraine, and the United States.